Name: Tom Portman
Start: 2024-07-26T20:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-07-26T22:00:00+01:00
Location: Galway Mechanics Institute

“Multi-instrumentalist Tom Portman has long been one of Galway’s most consistent and prolific performers. This is matched as a recording artist with seven solo albums and a rake of appearances as a session musician, including for Louisiana rock/slide player Brother Dege and Galway band The Raines.
For the Galway Fringe Festival 2024, Portman will be joined by harmonica ace Maciej Zaworonek playing music from their 2018 album, 'Train to Nowhere'.
‘Train to Nowhere’ is a raw stripped back rootsy country blues album from Tom Portman. It couples deft songwriting with intricate guitar and dobro playing which is the hallmark of Tom’s work. Portman is joined on this album by maestro Maciej (Magic) Zaworonek’s poetic harmonica lines. The title track ‘Train to Nowhere’ was penned by Australian songwriter Kevin Lymn, to a Dobro melody Tom was playing as they busked & drifted their way around the south of France many years ago. Tom’s songs on this album feature his wry humor, but also contain the subtle depth that one expects from a songwriter of Portman’s standing. The album also includes cover versions of Tom’s songwriting heroes Hank Williams, Tim O’Brien, and Eric Bibb. Imro..

Tom and Maciej's duet melds Portman’s original songwriting style with hot tunes from the likes of harmonica great Little Walter with Delta Guitar styles of Robert Johnson. An absolute treat for any serious Blues fan.